Audible signal for milking machines



Dec. 14, 1937. H -1 MARTlN Y 2,102,275

l AUDIBLE SIGNAL FOR MILKING MACHTNES Filed April 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14, 1937.A P. H. J. MARTIN AUDIBLE SIGNAL FOR MILKING MACHINES Filed April 28, 1.936

2 Shee 12s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 24 P H J Ml/'tn BY @w-MAL I ATTORNEY `Patented Dec. 14, 1937 2,102,275 AUDELE SIGNAL Fltis i Philip E. l?. Martin, Sacramento, Calif. Application April 28, 1936, Serial No. 76,741

This invention relates generally to an audible signal device and is directed particularly and specifically to an audible signal for automatic the suction cups has become disengaged from its teat.

A further object of my invention is to provide a modified form of signal device adapted to be employed in lconnection' with those automatic milking systems which do not use a milk bucket but connect the milk supply tube directly from the teat cups to a vacuum pipe leading to a central reservoir.

'A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which Will be exceedingly eiective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

` These objects accomplish by meansoi such structure and relative arrangement of partsas will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. ln the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the head or cover plate for the bucket of an automatic milking machine; the head being provided with my signal device.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2 2 of Figure 1 illustrating the initial position oi. the float and hook mechanism.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the position of the float and hook mechanism after the iioat Yhas risen, engaged the hook and returned to a lowered position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the float and f hook mechanism valve.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on which controls the whistle line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line S--t of Figure 3.

Figure 'l is a side elevation, partially broken out, illustrating a modied form of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral i indicates a circular head or cover plate for the milk receiving bucket of an automatic 'cow milking machine of the vacuum actuated type. This head i is provided as usual with a central connection 2 adapted to be connected to the pulsator or source of intermittent vacuum.

The head l is provided Withtwo milk intake connections and a whistle actuating mechanism for each as shown generally on Figure l as 3 and 5 but for the purpose of this speciilcation only one connection and its cooperating mechanism will be described, since one is a duplicate of the other.

The milk supply hose leading from the teat 10 cups is secured on a milk intake connection 5 secured on the head in communication with one end of a passage 6,\the other end of said passage 'opening into a circular andtapered valve seat bore extending thru the head parallel to the axis thereof. A removable plug valve E engagesJv in said bore and is provided with a port adapted to register with passage t and aord communication with the interior oithe milk bucket to which headl is secured.

An additional passage 9 is formed in the head and provides communication between an air whistle iii and the plug valve seat. The plug valve i is also providedwith a port il to aord communication between passage e and another passage i2, leading from the plug valve seat to the inner face of the head i.

' A downwardly opening needle valve it having a depending stern ii is suitably mounted on the inner face` of head i to control the :dow of air thru passage i2. Y

Removably secured in any suitable manner to the inner face of the head beneath the plug and needle valve is an oval-shaped metallic bowl i5 of suicient size to enclose the hereinafter described valve operating mechanism.

A transverse pin it extends from side to side of the bowl adjacent one end thereof and is pivotally supported on downturnedY ears il disposed intermediate the ends oi' a plate it, which .extends under the needle valve as well as' the plug valve. A depending screw eye it is mounted on the end of the plateV nearest the plug valve and supports a cylindrical valve and weight unit 2t in suspended relation by meansv of a link 2i. The weight 2li depends thru an opening O in the bottom of the bowl i5, that portion of the weight adjacent and immediately below the eor of the bowl being tapered inwardly as at 22 until materially reduced'lv in diameter as at 23. The 50 weight 2@ acts. to normally urge the opposite end and upwardly sloping portion of plate i8 against needle valve stem it andto keep valve i3 closed. In such position weight 2t also then substantially closes the opening O.

y in a plane parallel to the axis of the pin.

Two spaced arms 25 are pivoted at one end on pin I6, each adjacent one side of the bowl and outwardly of the ears I1. At their other ends these spaced arms 25 are secured to a float 26 dispbsed beneath the needle valve engaging portion of plate I8. A relatively short rigid finger 21 is secured to the under portion of float 26 and extends therefrom for engagement with hook 24.

The plate I8 immediately above the pin I6 is formed with a slot 28 extending at right angles to the axis of said pin and an eccentrically disposed pin 29 is secured to and projects downwardly from plug valve 1 into said slot.

Au level control pet cock 30 is mounted on one side of the bowl I5 intermediate thetop and bottom edges thereof; said. bowl also having an overow slot 3| adjacent the top edge thereof.

Operation In use, th valve control mechanism is initially set in the position indicated in Figure 2; the float rests on the bottom of the bowl and plate I8 holds valve I3 closed by means of weight 2|)I which is in such position as to substantially close opening O. At such time, and when the valve 1 is turned to a full open position, the plate `I8 is in the position shown in i'ull lines in Figure 4 and the hook 24 is disengaged from finger 21 as shown in Figure 5. It will also be noted that the spacing between arms 25 is considerably greater than that between ears I1 so that said plate I6 may move laterally along pin I6 from the above named initial position.

When the cow milking operation is to begin, the plug valve is inserted in the opening therefor and pin 29 engaged. in slot 26 and the plug valve then turned to a position where ports 8 and II are in register with their respective passages in the head. -With such turning of the plug valve, pin 29 moves plate I8 along pin I6 from the position indicated in dotted lines on Figure 4 to that shown in full lines.

The hook 24 will then restagainst nger 21 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. As the' milk from the cow enters thru passage 6 and port 8 and nils bowl I5, the float will rise to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and the hook 24 will drop into engagement with finger 21 as illustrated in Figure 6. T'he pet cock 30 is opened suiliciently to permit the greatest portion of the milk to escape into the bucket while at the same time maintaining a suiiicient quantity in the bowl to hold the oat in raised position.

When the cow ceases to give milk and none is owing into the bowl, the escape of milk thru the pet cock will cause the float to begin to move down toward the bottom of the bowl.

The float is of sufilcient' size to overcome the eifect of weight 20 and as the hook 24 is now engaged with finger 21, lthe downward movement of the float draws plate Il away from valve stem I4 and valve I3 begins to open. l

Also with the downward movement ot the float and the raising oi' weight 20 the tapered portion 22 of the weight is raised from the 'opening O so that the reduced portion 28 is adjacent the opening. This permits the Iimmediate escape oi' all the remaining milk from the bowl which greatly speeds up the emptying of the bowl and the resultant opening of valve I3.

The opening of valve I3 the bucket to draw air t ru the air whistle III and provide an audible signal in order that the attendant may hear the same and turn the plug valve 1 to an off position which then shifts plate I8 back to the initial position free of the hook and permits weight 20 'to again move the plate against the stern of valve I3 and close same. The turning of the plug valve also positively prevents further actuation of the air whistle until such valve is again turned to an open position.

If desired another whistle 32 of different tone may be inserted by suitable means between milk intake connection 5 and passage 6. This whistle will give an audible signal if the milk supply tube should break or a teat cup become disengaged from the cow permitting air to enter the supply tube and actuate the whistle. As air is drawn through the whistle I0, the vacuum is materially reduced in the bucket causing a reduction of vacuum in the teat cups and thus relieving 'the cow after milk has ceased to flow.

The modified form of my invention as shown in Figure 7 is adapted for use on automatic cow milking equipment where no milk bucket is used and the milk from the cows is carried from the supply tube thru a vacuum pipey into a central reservoir.

In this form of my invention, the head H and bowl B are arranged as a unit for the pet cock and overflow slot are eliminated.

A passage P leads from theupper portion of the bowl to a point immediately below opening O; a ported plug valve M being provided to open and close the passage. A connection C supports the unit and provides communication from opening 0' or passage P into the milk and vacuum pipe V.

The `construction of the head and mechanism withinfthe bowl are the same as in the iirvst described type of device with the exception that the weight W is of the ball type and does not extend thru opening v0 but merely forms a closure therefore in the manner of a ball check valve. However this weight W does not at any time completely close the opening and permits a certain amount of milk to escape therethru.

The operation of this modified form of my invention is substantially the same as heretofore described: the milk entering the unit thru the supply tube T and discharging from the bowl thru passage P and opening O'. When the milk ceases to flow into the bowl from tube T, the milk flowingo out oi' opening O and lowering the level in the bowl causes the float mechanism to open the air whistle valve and to cause an audible signal to vbe given. Of course when weight W2 is raised from opening O' the milk escapes faster from the bowl and speeds up the actuation of the valve opening mechanism for the giving of the signal. This signal-actuating mechanismis shut oif and reset in the same manner as heretofore described relative to the other form of my invention.

From the foregoing description it will be readi-J auses the vacuum in 's stantieuy fun or milk, and n Having thus described my invention, what I claim4 as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A signal device for a vacuum cow milking 5 machine including a whistle mounted inconnection with the machine, a normally closed valve to control the actuation of the whistle and means to open the valve upon completion o! the milking operation.

2. A signal for a vacuum milking machine including a whistle, a normally closed valve to control the actuation of the whistle and iloat actuated means to open the valve upon comple'- tion of the milking operation.'

i 3. `A signal for an automatic cow milking machine including a whistle, a valve to control the actuation of the whistle, means normally maintaining the valve closed and oat actuated means to move said first named means and open the.

valve upon completion of the milking operation. 4. In a vacuum cow milking machine, a bowl having a head plate and provided with a milk intake passage and a vacuum passage adaptedI for connection to a source of negative pressure to draw milk thru the intake passage into the bowl, another passage in the head open to atmosphere, an air whistle in the last named passage,

a valve closing the whistle passage as long as the Ibowl is substantially full of milk, and means to 80 open the valve upon the emptying of the bowl when milk ceases. to be drawnintov the bowl.

- 5. In a vacuum cow milking machine, a bowl having a head plate and provided with a milk intake passage and a vacuum passage adapted ton 85 connection to a source of negative pressure to drew muk thru "the intake passage into the bowl,

another ipassage in the head open to atmosphere, an air whistlein the last named passage, a valve closing the whistle passage as long as the bowl b40 is substantially full of milk, means to open the valve upon the emptying of the bowl when milk ceases to be drawn into the bowl, and selectively operable means to close the valve-'when the bowl i is empty. e

6. In a vacuinn cow milking machine, a bowl havinga head plate and provided with a milk intake passage and a vacuum passage adapted for connection to a source of negative pressure to draw milk thru the intake passage into the bowl,"

another passage in the head open to atmosphere, an air whistle in the last named passage, a seliopening vlve inthe whistle passage, means to hold the v ve closed as long as the bowl is subt controlled means to withdraw said valve holding means from the valve to allow the same to open uupon the emptying of the bowl when milk ceases'to be drawn into the bowl. f

.1. A structure es in claim e with meetively 50 operable means acting on said valve holding means to restore the same to a valve closing position'when the bowl is empty.

8. A device as inclaim4 inwhichthebowl is provided with a drain opening, and means acting to increase the eilective area oi said opening as the bowl empties. I

9. A device as in claim 6 in which the bowl is provided with a drain opening, and means 5 mounted in connection with the valve holding means to increase the effective area of the open ing as the bowl empties.

10`. In a vacuum cow milking machine, a bowl having a head plate and provided with a milk 1o intake passage and a vacuum passage adapted. for connection to a source of negative pressure to draw milk thru the intake passage into the bewl, another passage in the head open to atmosphere, an air whistle in the lastnamed pas- 15 sage, a self-opening valve in the whistle passage, said valve having a depending stem whose upward movement closes the valve, a depressible plate in the bowl under the stem to engage the same, means acting on the plate to cause the 20 same to normally engage the stem and move the same upwardly, and oat controlled means in the bowl to engage the plate when the bowl becomes substantially full of milk and to depress said plate to allow the valve to4open by the 25 emptying oi the bowl due to the cessation of the I flow of milk into the bowl.

11. A structure as in claim 10 with selectively operable means to release the plate from the iloat controlled means and allow the plate to v30 reassume its stem engaging position. F

12. Ina vacuum cow milking machine, a bowl having a head plate and provided with a milk intake passage 4and a vacuum passage adapted for connection to a sourceof negative pressure to 35 draw milk thru theI intake passage into the bowl, anotherv passage in the head open toatmosphere, an air whistle in the last named passage, a seli- Y opening valve in the whistle passage, said valve having sa depending stem whose upward move- .m

ment closes the valve, a depressible plate in the bowl under the stem to engage the same, means acting on the plate to cause the same to normally engage the stem and move the vsaine upwardly,

and a float pivoted in the bowl, initially dis-1 4;,

engaged catch means between the float and plate toconnect the plate andiioat together when the 'float' rises a predetermined distance whereby when the oat drops the plate will be lowered and the valve allowed to open. 50

13. A device'as in claim 12, in which the plate is mounted for lateral movement to disengage the catch means, and selectively operable Jmeans to shift the plate in such direction to allow the plate to again engage the valve stem. 55V- 14. A signal-device for a vacuum-cow milking machine including an audible signal mounted'in connection with the machine, a normally closed valve to control the actuation of the signal and a means to open the valve upon completion of the milking operation. v b

' i PHILIP H.'J. MARTIN. 

